Organic Thin Films: Teflon-like Properties

April 17, 2018

Chemistry’s Maria Marquez Excels in Research

Teflon, the compound used in nonstick cookware, was discovered by accident in 1938. In addition to its use in cookware, Teflon’s nonstick properties make it useful in a variety of other contexts, such as waterproof apparel, lubricants and medical devices.

Synthesizing Materials with Teflon-like Properties

Maria Marquez (’11, Ph.D. ’17), spent her time as a University of Houston chemistry graduate student synthesizing and characterizing materials with properties similar to Teflon. Her research was conducted in the lab of T. Randall Lee, Cullen Distinguished University Chair and Associate Dean of Research for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

“I liked that the research was multidisciplinary,” said Marquez. “It wasn’t just synthesizing molecules, but also finding applications for them.”

Fluorinated Thin Films: Teflon Properties at the Nanoscale

Marquez’s research focused on fluorinated thin films. Uses for thin films, which she applies to metal surfaces, include corrosion inhibition and lubrication.

“You can think of these molecules as nano-Teflon,” Marquez said. “These materials have Teflon properties at the nanoscale.”

To put that in perspective, one nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, with the diameter of a human hair measuring 75,000 nanometers. With organic thin films measuring two nanometers, their uses are applicable to a variety of applications such as electronics.

Reduced Fluorination

“The molecules I made are like sandwiched molecules, where there is a portion that is fluorinated, and a portion that is not fluorinated,” Marquez said. “So you get a little bit of both properties.”

Marquez is interested in the wetting properties of these materials. When a liquid is applied to the surface of these films, will it spread out or bead up? Depending on the answer, these materials can have applications in different contexts.

“With these molecules, we can have Teflon-like properties, but with minimal fluorination,” Marquez said. “Highly fluorinated molecules are known for being toxic.”

Working Through College: Family Support

As the first person in her family to go to college, Marquez was a path-breaker, someone responsible for figuring out everything from where to buy books to how to juggle classes with work.

“My family has been very supportive,” Marquez said. “They don’t always understand what I do, but they’ve always encouraged my studies.”

While working on a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at UH, Marquez found herself drawn to organic chemistry. After working in a lab, she decided to pursue graduate school, enrolling in a Ph.D. program.

Along the way, Marquez’s excellence in research was recognized with multiple scholarships from the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, as well as an Outstanding Student Poster Award during the 2017 American Chemical Society’s national meeting.